The Arabella Conundrum

Part Four- The Detention Configuration

I sat and thought, thought for a good twenty minutes on how to solve the dilemma and I was getting more stressed by the second. I was continually tapping my fingers on the table, racking my brain. I needed to get to my phone discreetly, but I couldn't, not with the teacher just sat there watching us with hawk eyes.

I sighed, great, just great. It was now 1.58 and I needed to be back home in an hour and a half. That may seem like a long time, but considering I have to walk for a good ten minutes, six and a half if I literally kill myself running, to get to the train station and then catch a train for around forty minutes into London and once there I have to catch a few tubes that take another ten to fifteen minutes and then walk home from the tube. That whole schedule is entirely dependent on if the trains are actually running on time, which they never are. I can usually just about do it by leaving lessons when they end on Mondays at 2.20 and arriving home just before 3.30.

The reason why I was freaking out was that I needed to be there to look after my baby siblings. Edward also known as Teddy or Eddie, Sebastian (Seb) and Elenora (Nora or Ellie depending on which nickname was used) were my gorgeous little brothers and sister who are just over 22 months old. If I wasn't there by that time then there wasn't anybody to look after them. So when I said get back home, I actually meant go to their day nursery to pick them up.

This was not a good situation. I needed to think of a way to sort this out. I dared a glance to the boy who landed me here. I felt a huge annoyance and anger towards him. I just didn't need this today.

"Bella," I heard a whisper.

I ignored the voice, calculating a plan in my head. There wasn't many things that got me freaked out and emotional but I know that when my siblings were involved I felt the fierce need to protect them. I started to nervously fidget and fiddle with my bracelet so much I was convinced it was going to break, thankfully it didn't.

Think, think, think!!!

Think of something I was screaming to myself. I must have looked pretty distraught because I could tell the teacher was giving me some questionable if not worried looks.

"Hey," I got a poke in my side.

"What's up," I heard his chair scrape the floor. "It's only a detention, stop looking like you've run over a cat," he joked. "We just sit here and get the stink eye for another hour or so. It's really no big deal."

No big deal? I would no big deal him and his American as.....

Breathe Arabella. Deep breath in through the nose.

Yeah.. That really doesn't work at all.

"Stop," I hissed harshly and he looked shocked at me. "Just leave me alone," I repeated and looked down taking a deep breath.

This got a glare and hush from the teacher. Thankfully after a few more minutes the teacher in charge left, excusing himself to go to the bathroom. I whipped out my phone as soon as he left and dialled the one person who I know could help me.

"What's up A?," answered the voice on the other end. I sighed relieved that Ben had picked up.

"Hey, look I've got a massive favour to ask," My desperation clear in my voice as he replied slightly worried.

"What's the matter?"

"Minor hitch in the plans, I know it's a lot to ask but can you please go pick up the triple threat," I used our nickname for my siblings.

"Course I will babes, why though?" he pressed for an answer, trying to gauge why I was sounding so stressed.

"Got landed in detention, hormonal teacher, totally not my fault at all and I'm stuck in school until at least 4.00 and even if I left right now, I would still be late," I rushed in one breath and sighed angrily looking towards the clock.